Scandalous Intentions (18 page)

Julian came into view as he approached the auburn-haired beauty. “Lady Claudia, what are you doing here?”

She grinned at him.

Sarah nearly gave herself away at the sight of the woman’s low cut garment. The curves of her creamy breasts were barely restrained by the burgundy gown. That had to be the riskiest garment Sarah had ever laid eyes on. She should return to their room and wait for Julian. He clearly had no idea the woman would drop in on them.

“I came the moment it was proper to do so. Say you are pleased to see me, Julian.”

Heat spread through Sarah at the woman’s brazen use of his Christian name. If he had indeed ruined her, why would she come back and address him in such an intimate way?

Stepping closer to him, Lady Claudia wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. “Do you not see I have come back for you? Say you still love me.” She pressed her cheek against his chest. “Julian, the years we spent apart were unbearable. Memories of you, of our love, were all that kept me going. Say you are pleased to see me.”

A lump formed in Sarah’s throat, and her eyes stung. She willed him to tell Lady Claudia he loved another, to remove her hands from around him. She fought the urge to run down the stairs and confront them.

“We should talk.” Julian’s voice drifted up to her, not a hint of unease in his tone.

“We have the rest of our days to talk. Right now, I want to feel you.”

Sarah’s heart froze in her chest when Lady Claudia lifted onto her toes and pressed her lips to Julian’s.

He did not pull away.

Sarah stood and raced to her sitting room. Moisture built in her eyes as she fought for breath. She could not withstand any more of the couple’s reunion.

She flung herself onto a wing-back chair and buried her face against its floral upholstery. What a bird-witted fool she had been to believe he would ever love her. One did not arrange a marriage based on a deal and then fall in love. It simply did not happen.

Sobbing would change nothing. Lady Claudia still loved Julian, and she was back to claim him. Sarah stood no chance against the woman. But what was she to do? She glanced around the room. What could she do? Her gaze stopped on the miniature she had placed near the window only this morning.
Amelia. She would go to Amelia.

Sarah strode to her desk, sat, and removed her writing materials from the drawer. Her freedom had been a term of their arrangement. But then she had agreed to sleep in his bed. She sighed. No matter, he had clearly changed his mind.

Julian,

Do not worry about me. I have my dowry for support and the safety of friends to protect me. I will not stand in the way of true love, even if it breaks my heart to leave.

Sarah.

A rogue tear slid down her cheek as she pulled the call cord. Edna had packed their things this morning in preparation for her wedding trip. One less thing to worry about. All she had left to do was order a carriage loaded and readied. Where would she get one?

SCANDALOUS INTENTIONS

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Julian steered Claudia
toward a chair. “Sit now, and let us talk.”

The woman gazed at him as she lowered herself to sit. “What is there to talk about? I have returned for you as I always dreamed I would.”

Julian looked away, unable to meet her gaze. After Claudia cast him aside to marry Lord Akford, he thought he would never see her again. His heart healed, and, with time, he came to understand the difference between a green lad’s fascination and true love. Julian positioned himself on a high-backed chair. Claudia captivated him when they were younger. Her brazen, spirited personality had enthralled him. Back then, he could not get enough of her.

“Lord Akford passed away. I have only now come out of mourning.” She leveled those flashing green eyes on him. “I did not wish to cause another scandal by coming to you directly after his death.” Her elegantly clad body rose from the chair in a swirl of satin. She swayed her hips as she sashayed over to him before lowering herself onto his lap. How had he ever been fooled by her contrived movements? Julian grabbed her arms and hoisted her back onto her feet then stepped across the room. “I am sorry for your misfortune, Lady Claudia, but we cannot be together.”

She tipped her chin, meeting his gaze. “Whatever do you mean? Of course we can. I never stopped loving you.” Moisture shone in her green eyes.

He retrieved his handkerchief and pressed it into her hand. “I have married.”

“Married men often keep mistresses. I can be yours.” She dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “I admit it is not ideal, but we can make the arrangement work.” She stared at him through clouded eyes.

“I am in love with my wife.”

She rested her gloved hands on his shoulders. “But you must love me as well. You kissed me back just moments ago.”

“You took me by surprise, nothing more.”

She moved to him, pressed her lips to his.

He jerked away taking hold of her arms. “Stop this foolishness. I love my wife. Whatever we had is in the past.”

She stared up at him, her face suddenly void of emotion.

“Do you hear me? There is nothing for us.” He released her arms and moved for the door.

“How can you say such a thing after all we shared? I will not give up on us.”

Her words froze him in place. “There is nothing to fight for. I am afraid you have wasted your time coming here.”

She threw herself back into his arms. “You can not be serious. I love you, I have always loved you.”

He pushed her away. “Show yourself out, madam.” He left the office ignoring her calls as he made his way across the foyer.

The meeting only solidified his love for Sarah. She was pure and innocent, loyal and caring. Claudia meant nothing to him. She was his past. After what she had done to him, all she had put him through, he could not fathom why she would come to him. He wanted her gone from his home, his life.

His butler stood at the end of the hall. “Gregory, please see that Lady Claudia is removed from the premises. Make it known that she is not to be readmitted.”

“Right away, my lord.” Gregory nodded and turned toward the office.

“Gregory.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Do you know where I might find Lady Luvington?”

“She retired to her sitting room, my lord.”

“Very well, that is all.” Julian raced up the stairs before turning down the long hallway. His need for her built with every step as he headed toward her sitting room. He stopped just outside the door and drew in a deep breath. For better or worse, he would tell her the secrets of his heart.

“Sarah, my pet.” He stepped through the door, but the room lay empty. Her scent wrapped around him, vanilla and jasmine. His gaze halted on a letter sitting on the desk. He crossed the room, picked it up, and began reading.

‘I will not stand in the way of true love.’

He crumpled the stationary in his hand. Bloody hell, she must have seen Lady Claudia. His chest tightened as he smoothed the paper to finish reading it. Perchance she left a clue. One line jumped out at him,

…‘even if it breaks my heart’.
A lump formed in his throat.
She loves me too. My Sarah loves me.

He stormed out of the room, letter still in his fisted hand. He had to find her before it was too late.

* * * *

The horse’s hooves pounded the road as Julian urged it into a fast canter. A cloud of dust trailed behind him. At least Abernathy House was not far. He had hurt Sarah. The thought of her seeing him and Claudia ripped at his very soul.

He tugged on the reins, steering the horse up the drive to the duchess’s estate. A stable lad stood by the porch. Julian drew rein, jumped from his mount, and tossed the reins to the lad. “Keep him here.” He continued up the porch steps two at a time to the mahogany front door.

Her Grace’s butler opened it. “Good day, my lord.”

“Is Lady Luvington in residence?” He glanced around the foyer.

“I am afraid not, my lord.”

He handed the butler a calling card. “I wish to have an audience with Her Grace.”

The butler frowned. “I am afraid Her Grace is not here, either.”

“Where might I find her?” Julian pressed his mouth into a straight line.

“She has departed for Scotland to--”

Julian spun on his heels without waiting for the man to finish and bounced down the steps even quicker than he had climbed them. If the duchess had gone to Scotland, Sarah was surely with her. They could only have gone to one destination. Goldstones.

But what if Sarah had not left with the duchess? He took the reins from the stable boy. “When Her Grace departed, was Lady Sarah Luvington with her?”

The lad angled his head toward the ground. “No, my lord. She was quite alone except for her maid.”

Well, that did not mean Sarah had not wound up in the carriage, but it may behoove him to check around London before racing off so far as Scotland. “You have been most helpful.” He reached into his pocket and tossed the boy a coin before throwing himself into the saddle and pushing his mount into a run.

She could be at her parent’s estate, but he did not think it as likely a place as Lord Shillington’s residence. She and Lady Jane were friends, and Lord Shillington always seemed to hover near her. His gut insisted she had gone to the Duchess of Goldstone’s, but the gamble was too big to take without exhausting other avenues first.

Alas, the more time that elapsed, the farther she potentially drifted from him. He needed to hurry the search. A carriage swerved to get out of his way, its driver yelling back at him as he raced by. Julian pushed the horse faster still.

People’s complaints assaulted his ears. “Slow down! These are public streets.”

“If you want to race, go to the track.”

“You are a madman! Slow your beast at once.”

He ignored them, pushing his mount on.

Shillington stood on his porch when Julian raced up to the house. He did not waste time dismounting. “Where is my wife?”

“How should I know the whereabouts of your wife, Luvington?”

His blood boiled. “It is clear the two of you are friends. It seems reasonable enough that she might come here.” Julian scowled at him. “Are you hiding her, Shillington?”

“I have not seen Lady Sarah since your wedding.” Lord Shillington placed his hands on his hips.

“Have I your word as a gentleman?” Julian peered at him.

Shillington’s eyes narrowed in consideration before he nodded. “Yes, as a gentleman.”

Julian spurred the horse back into motion, leaving a cloud of dust in Shillington’s face. He did not like the man’s friendship with Sarah, though he believed it to be innocent. The way Shillington always hovered did not set right with him.

Alas, she was free to choose her friends. If he were honest, he would admit he and Shillington were friendly as well. The two of them had spent many a night together at White’s. An ugly thing, jealousy, but he could not help it where his wife was concerned.

Enough time had been wasted already. Sarah could be as much as four hours ahead of him. He steered the horse home. Once there he would send a footman to check Lady Vivian’s and the Havenshire’s, as well as Lord Roseington’s, with instructions to get word to him should Sarah be found. If all else failed, he would get a fresh mount and head for Scotland.